Can-filling machine.



Patented Hot. 23. I900.

m. BEUJUZ.

J. E. J. GDODLETT.

CAN FILLING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 31, 1899.)

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(No Model.)

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J. E. a. GUODLETT.

CAN FILLINE MACHINE.

(Application filed. Aug 31, 1899.) (No Modai.)

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W 0 a6 M2776 N0. BBUJOZ. Patented Hot. 23, I900.

J. E. J. GOUDLETT.

emu mum; MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 31, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheots-$heet 3,

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JOSEPH E. J. GOODLETT, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

CAN FILLIING MACHINE.

QPIECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,102, dated October 23, 1900. Application filed August 31, 1899. Serial No. 729,105. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it kn own that I, JOSEPH E. J. GoonLE'rT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can- Filling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive machine which may be operated by hand to rapidly fill cans of different sizes. It involves the use of twin reservoirs of adjustable capacity to correspond with the different capacity of the cans to be filled and provided with proper vents and means whereby the mere movement of a valve causes one of the reservoirs to be filled while the other is being discharged, and vice versa.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view, parts being removed or broken away to show the interior. Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows in side elevation a certain drip-pan and adjacent parts. Fig. *1 is a rear view of the valve-chamber. Fig. 5 is a plan View of the drip-pan and its supports. Fig. 6 is a view of a certain pan-supporting frame.

In the figures, A designates the preferably cast body of the filling apparatus, which is supported in any suitable way above a table B, upon which the cans to be filled are placed in succession.

C C are a pair of reservoirs closed above, but open below into passages A in branches A of the body A. Each reservoir is fixed in a ring G which is detachably screwed into the body branches just mentioned. The central portion of this body forms a valve-chamber A in which works a rotary valve D, of slightly-tapering form, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and held in its seat bya spring D within the cap A of the body A and coiled about a valve-ste1n D passing out through a stuffing-box I) and provided at its outer end with an operating-lever D". The valvechamber has above an inlet-port A below an outlet-port A and on each side a port communicating with one of the passages A and serving to alternately allow material to pass to the corresponding reservoir and to return therefrom. Material is brought to the valvechamber by a pipe E from any suitable source of supply, and after passing to the reservoirs and returning it is discharged into the cans through the lower port. The arrangement of the valve is such that when the lever D is vertical the four ports are closed, but when the lever is swung a certain distance to the right the inletport communicates with the right-hand reservoir and the outlet-port with the left-hand reservoir, so the one reservoir is filled while the other is being discharged. If the lever be then swung to the left a certain distance past the vertical line of its axis,

the second reservoir just emptied is filled while the other is emptied. The movement of the lever to the right and left is limited by a stop F, fixed in the rear wall of the chamher and projecting into a curved or segmental recess F in the rear face of the valve, and accidental movement of the lever from a vertical position, closing all the ports, is prevented by a spring-catch F engaging in a V-shaped recess or notch F in the periphery of the stuffing-box. From the rear wall of the valve-chamber project vertical lugs G, which form a slightly-tapering dovetail way to receive and hold rigidly in a horizontal position by its slightly-tapering dovetail projection G a rectangular frame G. links G are pivoted to opposite sides of this frame, and the lower ends of each pair of opposite links are pivotally connected to cross bar G Upon the cross-bars rests a drip-pan G lying a little below the discharge-port of the valve-chamber. From one of the crossbars depends a rigid arm G having at its lower end an adjustable T-like stop G, parallel to and a little above the table B and fixed to the arm by a set-screw G If a can be placed upon the table and pushed rearward it meets the stop, and as it advances to position beneath the discharge-port swings the drip-pan out ofthe way without inclining the latter in any direction. A spring H resists this movement of the drip-pan and re stores the pan to position so soon as the withdrawal movement of the can permits.

In the top of each reservoir is an opening O surrounded by an internally threaded neck I, into which is screwed a plug I, having below a central recess 1 from which small vent-passages I lead upward through the Depending plug. Outside the neck is provided with an annular recess, and in this is a packing-ring I to form an air-tight joint with a cup J, inverted over the neck and thus covering the vent-passages in the plug. From the side of the cup a spout J leads nearly to the central plane of the machine and discharges into a funnel K, supported on the valve chamber and discharging downward into the drip-pan, which thus receives any material that may chance to pass out with the air through the vent-openings. A rod L passes axially down through the inverted cup and plug and bears at its lower end within the reservoir a floatvalve M, in position to close the opening in the top of the reservoir leading to the recess from which the vent-passages open, and also bears within the cup an enlargement M to meet an upwardly-projecting stem 1 from the plug and thus limit the downward movement of the rod. The valve is closed by the material as the latter enters and fills the reservoir, cutting off the escaping air at the last moment, and to insure the certainty of its opening at the proper instant when the material is to be discharged the rod is depressed by a lever N, bearing thereon and centrally pivoted upon an arm 0 and resting upon the top of the rod. To the outer end of this lever is pivoted a vertical rod P, working in suitable guides and having its lower end bent into the path of a projection Q from the lower end of the valve-lever D. By this means the movement of the lever which opens the reservoir for the discharge of its contents also depresses the float valve and allows air to enter above the receding material.

Practically difierent sizes of cans are used, so that the corresponding capacity of the reservoirs has to be regulated, and to adapt the machine for use with cans of any size I provide an inverted cup T, adapted to slide in a stuffing-box T into and outof the cylinder or reservoir and fix it in any desired position by a set-screw T Obviously by varying the extent to which this cup projects within the cavity to be occupied by the material the amount of material entering the cavity may be varied at will within certain limits.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The inverted cups T are adjusted in the reservoirs, so as to render the capacity of the passages in the branches and the reservoirs of approximately the capacity of each of the cans or vessels to be filled. The valve being in normal position is now turned by its handle to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 and in dotted lines in Fig. 2. This action will permit the material to pass into the righthand reservoir until it reaches the highest point permitted by the float therein, when the latter closes the opening in the top of the reservoir. One of the cans or vessels is next taken and pushed along the table, which action causes the can to contact with the stop G and thus force the drip-pan from beneath the outlet-port A The right-hand reservoir having been filled, the handle is thrown to the opposite position at the left hand, which action will cause the right-hand projection to lift its rod P, open the valve, and permit the material to flow down through the outlet-port A into the can, At the same time the lefthand reservoir has been filled and its valve closed by the inflowing material. The filled can being removed permits the drip from the outlet-port to drop onto the drip-pan G Another can is placed in position for filling when the handle is thrown over to let the material flow through theoutlet from the left -hand reservoir while the right-hand reservoir is filling. The operation is repeated as long as it is desired to fill the same-sized cans. If larger or smaller cans are to be filled, the inverted cups are adjusted to change the capacity of the reservoirs accordingly.

Since some of the details described maybe readily changed without passing the limits of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to the exact details set forth; but

What I claim is v 1. A can-filling machine comprising a res ervoir having a top opening, a body formed with a valve-chamber and with an inlet-port and an outlet-port, and having a branch containing a passage through which the reservoir is filled and emptied, a valve having a way adapted to connect the inlet-port with the branch passage in one position of the valve and the branch passage with the outlet-port in another position of the valve, a float for closing the top opening, means whereby the float is suspended in the reservoir, and means connecting the valve with the means whereby the float is suspended to lower the float when the reservoir is emptied.

2. The combination with two reservoirs each having a vent-opening, of a valve arranged to admit material to one reservoir while opening the other for discharge, a ventclosing float-valve in each reservoir, and mechanical means connecting the valve with the float whereby the setting of the valve for discharging either reservoir forcibly opens the corresponding vent-closing float-valve.

3. A can-filling machine comprising a reservoir having a top opening, a body formed with a valve-chamber and with an inlet-port and an outlet-port, and having a branch containing a passage through which the reservoir is filled and emptied, a Valve having a Way adapted to connect the inlet-port with the branch passage in one position of the valve andthe branch passage with the outlet-port in another position of the valve, a projection on the valve, a lever supported on the reservoir, a float, within the reservoir, having a rod whereby it is guided beneath one end of the lever, and a rod pivoted to the other end of the lever and adapted to be lifted by the projection on the valve when the reservoir is discharged.

4. A can-filling machine comprising a pair of reservoirs, a body formed with a valvechamber and with an inlet-port and an outletport, and having branches each containing a passage through which the reservoirs are filled and emptied, a valve having independent ways adapted to connect alternately, the inlet-port with the branch passages in one position of the valve and the branch passages and the outlet-port in another position of the valve, projections on the valve, levers supported on the reservoirs, floats within the reservoirs, having rods whereby they are guided beneath one end of the levers, and rods pivoted to the other ends of the levers and adapted to be lifted by the projections on the valve when the reservoirs are discharged.

5. The combination, with a reservoir having a vent-opening at the top, of a plug, surmounting the vent-opening, and having a vent-passage therethrough, a float having a guide-rod extending through the plug and formed with an enlargement above the plug, and a removable cup having a discharge-spout and covering the vent-opening.

6. A can-filling machine comprising a reservoir having a top opening, a neck secured around the top opening, a plug having a central recess and vent-passage leading from the recess and located within the neck above the top opening, a float having a guide-rod extending through the plug, and a removable cup having a discharge-spout, and fitted over the neck.

7. A can-filling machine comprising an outlet-port, drip-pan, means whereby the drip pan is mounted so as to reciprocate horizontally beneath the outlet-port, an arm depend ing from the drip-pan, and a stop secured to the arm, with which the can to be filled engages to move the drip-pan from beneath the outlet-port and to permit the drip-pan to return automatically to normal position when the can is withdrawn.

8. A can-filling machine comprising a frame adapted to be supported thereon, depending arms pivoted in pairs to the frame, cross-bars pivoted to the lower ends of the depending arms, a drip-pan mounted on the cross-bars, a rigid arm depending from the drip-pan, and a stop supported in the lower end of the rigid arm.

In'testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH E. J. GOODLETT.

Witnesses:

THOS. J. Fox, S. D. EDWARDS. 

